Southeast lawyers laud peaceful celebration of Biafra Day

Lawyers from the southeast have commended the Igbo at home and abroad for peacefully marking the 50th anniversary of Biafra declaration.

The President of Otu Oka-Iwu (Law Society), Chuks Ikokwu expressed satisfaction that there was no breach of law and order during the period.

He said: “We are particularly impressed by the solidarity of Nigerians in the anniversary. We commend members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) for conducting themselves peacefully during the sit-at-home period.”

The law society also commended the Federal Government and its agencies, especially the police and other armed forces for ensuring that there was no bloodbath during the period.

“We commend the police for respecting the rights of the people to free speech and peaceful assembly, in line with international norms and best practice,” the statement said.

Ikokwu urged the Federal Government to release or arraign all Biafra political prisoners, including the detained members of IPOB and MASSOB.

“The issue of political prisoners is antithetical to true democracy. We denounce the violent repression of peaceful protests and assemblies by the armed forces. We demand that all persons involved in the unwholesome acts are brought to justice,” the statement added.

They also urged the Federal Government to “take urgent steps to demilitarise the southeast and south-south zones of the country,” adding that the multiplicity of police and military checkpoints in the zones could escalate the volatility.

Ikokwu condemned the replacement of the former Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu with Mr. Funso Doherty.

According to him, it was a breach of Section 21(2) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, which provides that “In the event of a vacancy, the president shall appoint a replacement from the geo-political zone of the immediate past member that vacated the office, to complete the remaining tenure.”